Heartland Express to match all donations from auction up to $15,000; Additional match opportunities welcome to help support the cause
Nonprofit St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (SCF), an organization that provides financial assistance to ill and injured truck drivers, announced today it will host a virtual online auction starting November 1 to support over-the-road/regional semi-truck drivers and families in need. The auction replaces the annual auction held every year in the parking lot of the Great American Trucking Show (GATS) in Dallas, TX, that was canceled earlier this year.
Heartland Express, a best-in-class transportation, and logistics organization, will once again match all donations from the event up to $15,000, something they have done for the past two years. Heartland Express began supporting St. Christopher after one of their own drivers, Bruce Richard, received support from the foundation when his wife, Debbie, was injured in an accident. Bruce has since become a brand ambassador and passionate supporter of SCF.
“We are so grateful for Bruce and Debbie and for the support of Heartland Express and everyone who donates to our virtual auction,” stated Shannon Currier, SCF Director of Philanthropy and Development. “Without the opportunity to have this auction live at GATS this summer we need all the help we can get and would certainly welcome the support of other companies like Heartland who are willing to match what we raise.”
The auction will take place in three week-long sessions, starting with the first session running from Sunday, November 1, at 10:00 am ET, to Saturday, November 7, at 7:00 pm ET. Each session will have a new set of items to bid on for the week. The remaining two sessions will follow the same schedule, with the second starting on November 8 and the third and final session on November 15. The auction will officially close on Saturday, November 21. A full list of auction items will be listed on the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund Facebook page.
“Heartland Express is once again thrilled to be a part of the St. Christopher Fund’s auction and fundraising efforts. Supporting drivers throughout our country is imperative, now more than ever, and Heartland is proud to support them in any way we can,” said Julie Durr, Events Coordinator, Heartland Express. “I’m pleased to announce that Heartland is happy to match funds again this year up to $15,000.00. We encourage people to support this fund to help drivers in their time of hardship get back
on their feet.”
On the road comfort products maker RoadPro donated more than a dozen items worth over $1,000 to this year’s auction, including a PowerDrive® 300 Watt Bluetooth® Power Inverter, RoadKing® 40 Channel CB Radio with RK56NC Mic, a RoadKing® Premium Noise-Canceling Bluetooth® Headset and a RoadPro® 12-Volt Portable Stove. Several items totaling more than $2,000 were also donated by the
Radio Nemo Show who planned to auction those items at their booth at GATS to benefit the foundation.
Host Dave Nemo and his partner Michael Burns, and Dr. John McElligott (“Dr. John”) founded St. Christopher in 2007.
Chrome shop and aftermarket accessories provider Raney’s is also getting in on the virtual auction to benefit SCF, with an accessories package valued at over $1,000 plus $200 worth of in-store gift cards. The package includes an Angry Duck Hood Ornament, a Blue Tiger Elite Wireless Bluetooth Headset, an EagleEye 4 1080p GPS Dash Multi-cam System, a Chrome 3 Trumpet Competition Series Train Horn, and much more!
Donations to SCF help provide financial assistance to ill or injured semi-truck drivers. Assistance may be in the form of direct payment to providers for household living expenses such as rent/mortgage, utilities, vehicle payments, and insurance. SCF also provides health and wellness programs for drivers in hopes to prevent some medical illnesses. Some of these programs include health challenges, smoking cessation, and free flu, shingles, and pneumonia vaccines.
Truckers needing assistance from SCF may apply by clicking here. To donate to SCF’s mission to support truckers and their families in financial need, click here.
